An SMB's Glossary of Basic Cybersecurity Terminology

Summary: A survey of basic cybersecurity terminology for small and midsized businesses (SMBs), including an answer to what does zero trust mean, which will help SMB owners understand and discuss cyber threats with IT experts.

What Are the Security Terms in a Good Cybersecurity Glossary for SMBs?

Owners of small and midsized businesses are expected to have expertise in the product or service their company provides. However, they’re not necessarily versed in cybersecurity terminology related to protecting their networks, websites and endpoint devices. Especially since the increase in remote-access work has inspired cybercriminals to target SMBs more than ever.

Hackers consider smaller businesses prime targets, ripe for cyberattacks because they have the false belief that cybercriminals won’t be interested in them. Even worse, 60% of all SMBs go out of business within six months of a cyberattack.

Although there are many cybersecurity definitions business owners don’t need to know, the first step toward digital safety is understanding basic security terms.

Q: Why is cybersecurity awareness important for small business employees?

A: Employees are often the first line of defense against cyber threats. Sharing a good cybersecurity glossary helps raise awareness, which allows staff to recognize suspicious emails, unsafe websites and potential scams. When employees understand common threats and safe practices, they’re less likely to accidentally expose company data or systems to attackers through simple mistakes.

What Are the Important Cybersecurity Definitions SMBs Need to Know?

• Virus – A virus is any malicious code that alters the operation of a computer
• Phishing – A phishing attack (sometimes called “spoofing)” occurs when a hacker poses as someone the user knows or a trusted source in an email, text or phone call to trick the user into sharing private or sensitive data. Cyber thieves have become skilled at recreating familiar sites or domain names that look legitimate at first glance
• IP Spoofing – A type of phishing attack in which the hacker modifies the source address of a header to disguise the sender’s identity and or launch a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack
• Anti-Phishing – Refers to any security methods used to block phishing attacks. In addition to the software required, anti-phishing must be addressed at the user level by providing all employees with cybersecurity awareness training. It’s essential for all your company’s users to adopt the mantra, “Think before you click!”
• Encryption – A process used for encoding data or converting it to secret codes that can only be deciphered and read by authorized recipients
• Malware – Short for “malicious software,” malware is specifically designed to enable unauthorized access to or cause disruptive damage to a computer system
• Ransomware – Malware that encrypts files, making them inaccessible to users. Once encrypted, the hacker holds the data hostage until a ransom is paid. Responding to such an attack requires the participation and expertise of IT experts
• Firewall – One of the many layers of cybersecurity on a network, it’s used to block and filter out unauthorized parties from gaining access to the private data stored on your devices. Note: A firewall alone is no longer sufficient to ensure your data is safe. It is just one of many protections that should be installed on a network
• Data Breach – Any unauthorized access to any data is considered a data breach
• DoS Attacks – A DoS or denial of service hack floods a website with malicious traffic, causing it to slow down or malfunction and leaving the site unavailable to legitimate visitors. This attack could manifest as a slow connection and eventually cause the website to go down completely
• DDoS Attack – A distributed denial of service event is when cybercriminals use multiple computers to launch a DoS attack, thereby increasing the magnitude of the illicit traffic
• Spyware – Malware created to secretly collect private data about an individual or company to sell to a third party
• Bots and Botnets – Bots are individual machines that are commandeered by hackers to form a botnet network of computers that they control
• Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) – Encrypted internet connections that use “tunneling technology” to create a private network within your public network. VPNs hide the IP address and location of your network and your online activities

Understanding some basic cybersecurity terms is essential to operating any SMB as online security has become a top priority for every business.

Q: What are common cyber threats small businesses face?

A: Small businesses commonly face threats such as phishing attacks, ransomware, malware infections and password theft. Cybercriminals often target smaller organizations because they may have fewer security resources. These attacks can disrupt operations, compromise customer data and lead to financial losses if proper protections are not in place.

What Does Zero Trust Mean and How Does it Apply to Cybersecurity for SMBs?

Zero trust is an approach used by companies that allows the restriction of networks and applications from a position of trusting nothing. Zero trust aims to create restrictions and protections to block unauthorized access while permitting authorized users unhindered access.

Zero trust means just what it says, “Don’t trust anyone or anything.”

Q: What basic cybersecurity protections should small businesses implement?

A: Small businesses should use strong passwords, enable multifactor authentication, install reliable antivirus software and keep systems updated with security patches. Regular data backups are also important in case of ransomware or system failure. These basic protections create multiple layers of defense that significantly reduce cybersecurity risks.

What Are the Basics of Cybersecurity for Small Business?

What does zero trust mean? The definition is one thing, but the implications of it are another. It means that in the current cyber threat climate, SMBs must focus more on cybersecurity. IT experts can help reduce the incidence of costly social engineering cyberattacks by ensuring your company has the proper layers of cybersecurity in place. They can perform a cyber risk assessment to see what action is necessary to protect your business data.

Reach out if you’re looking for a New York-based IT security company or get in touch with a local small business cybersecurity expert to learn more about cybersecurity definitions, security terms and affordable managed cybersecurity services for small business.

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